Bene Israel

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Bene Israel (Heb. ‘Sons of Israel’). Early Jews (of the biblical period), but more particularly a Jewish community in India. Indian Jews claim their community dates back to the days of the Maccabees and survived in complete isolation. By 1969, 12,000 had emigrated to Israel, although the religious establishment initially raised questions of personal status and legitimacy: in 1964, the Chief Rabbinate declared them ‘full Jews in every respect’.

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